Considered the greatest state court in Miami Dade County's checkered history of judges, the great Judge Ed Cowart passed away on this day in 1987.
We remember him well; his "bless your soul" responses to objections, and how he took to calling a lot of people "pardner".
You may notice a few remarkable things about Judge Cowart: He wasn't 35 years old when he was on the circuit bench; he didn't just call balls and strikes; he spoke from the heart and was brilliant- all qualities of no-importance to the federalist society cabal of DeSantis gum-smacking judges.
This dear readers, was a JUDGE. Take note.
Did John Malkovich portray him accurately in "Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil and Vile"?
ReplyDeleteOne of the saddest days in my life when Judge Cowart passed away. I fished with him, watched the dolphins beat the vikings in the superbowl at his Palmetto Bay house. He was present at my wedding. Absolutely the best judge ever to set foot in the Justice Building. I was privileged to try many cases before him.I still think of him when I see his portrait hanging in the courtroom when I venture to the Justice Bldg.I miss Bill Chalk,his great bailiff as well and Margery, his secretary.Now we are stuck with the likes of El Aponte, and little Areces. We will never see his likes again. Hard to believe its been 33 years.
ReplyDeleteWhy would you throw a jab at Areces, when discussing/honoring Cowart. Areces has been an exceptional judge whom reads everything prior to hearings and rules based on the law, fairly.
DeleteTrial master is a jerk off master mostly
DeleteOne of Judge Cowart's favorite sayings" cripple that and walk it by me slowly". How times have changed if a judge said that these days.
ReplyDeleteJune 1987. I was 29 and getting married at a fairly large wedding -and I had asked Judge Norman Gerstein - a friend - to marry us. On the day of the wedding, Norman called to tell me that he had to cancel and had asked Judge Cowart to step in for him. I did not know Judge Cowart, but he graciously appeared at the door and went on to perform a wonderful wedding ceremony. I always felt honored that I had that small connection to that great man.
ReplyDeleteSorry. Wrong date. Wedding was in June, 1985.
ReplyDeleteBiden should pardon Trump. It is his only chance of winning. With every indictment Trump grows stronger just like OB1. Here he was a big problem with this judge so he will need to win from jail.
ReplyDeletePlease judge Michael Hanzman come back to the justice building. We miss you more than you can know. There has never been another jurist like you. All of the prosecutors, criminal, defense, lawyers, clerks, and even other judges, worshiped your academic decisions which always brought justice. Enough private practice! We desperately need you and your wisdom, kindness, and amazing judicial temperament. Would you consider it? Thank you Judge Hanzman
ReplyDeleteI practiced before J Cowart, and agree with all of the favorable comments made about him. As well, I got a ruling of his reversed (my first petition for writ of certiorari). He was always professional, and was respectful and courteous to woman attorneys as well as to men. He could come back and still be a model for today's lawyers and judges, without the least bit of "PCness training" needed.
ReplyDeleteI agree with 12.55 too. Lawyers who consider standing for election should pay attention to these two jurists: both experienced attorneys before they ascended the bench. FIRST, Get that experience, write a few articles, speak at some CLE seminars, get some EXPERIENCE!!!